Title: All that you love will be carried away (2004) Runtime: 28′Director: James RennerScript: James RennerCast: John Bloom, Harvey Pekar, Charles Moore, Rebecca Wilde, Jef Etters, Michael Stanley, James Renner.Scene

James Renner; April 28, 2004

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

James Renner: My name is James Renner, and I’m a freelance writer/director living in Cleveland, Ohio. Recently, I’ve had several articles published in a weekly magazine out here called, “Scene”. My favorite piece so far has been the story from March about three local police officers who chased a UFO into Pennsylvania in 1966. I also work on films and commercials when they come to town.

SKSM: When will you make All That You Love Will Be Carried Away? Can you tell me a little about the production? And how long take it to film you think?

James Renner: I recieved the rights to All That You Love…in August of last year. Since then, I’ve been trying to secure financing for the project. We actually had an investor who pulled out a day before we started shooting. I had to end up putting most of the expenses on a credit card. But, we did start shooting April 19th, and it went very well. Better than I could have hoped, actually. Now, I have to begin the editing process, and eventually work with the composer from Cleveland State who will write original music for the piece. His name’s Mike Bratt.

SKSM: How come you picked All That You Love Will Be Carried Away to develop into a movie? What is it in the story that you like so much?

James Renner: All That You Love… stands out from King’s usual writing in some way. First, it has no supernatural element, no monsters. It’s a simple story about a traveling salesman, and his search for purpose. Alfie Zimmer, the central character…the only character really, is just such a cool guy. He’s very funny, even if his intention is to kill himself.

SKSM: How did you find out that King sold the movie rights to some of his stories for just $1? Was it just a wild guess or did you know it before you sent him the check?

James Renner: I’ve been checking in with King’s office twice a year since I was 17. I found his office number while I was doing research for some high school paper.

SKSM: How does it feel that all the King fans out there can’t see your movie at the time when it’s ready? Do you think that will change in the future? Maybe a video release would be possible?

James Renner: I don’t know if there will ever be a video release, but there are other ways for fans to see these dollar babies. Hopefully this will land in some festivals, and of course there’s the internet. I don’t want to make a profit. I just want to make something King will really like.

SKSM: Did you have any personal contact with King before making the movie?

James Renner: I met him once at a reading in Princeton. I didn’t go there, I just crashed the reading. It was so great to hear him in person. He’s got a wonderful stage pressence and a terrific sence of humor. He looked up at the top balcony and said, “I think I saw some pieces of plaster falling from underneath you guys. Good luck up there” or something like that.

SKSM: Do you have any plans for making more movies based on Stephen King’s stories? If you could pick – at least – one story to shoot, which one would it be and why?

James Renner: I would be happy to direct any future King story. They’re all wonderful. I have my favorite, but I’m not about to spill those beans.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything else you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

Rebecca Wilde; July 31, 2006

SKSM: Could you start with telling me a bit about yourself? Who are you and what do you do?

Rebecca Wilde: I am Rebecca Wilde and I co-host a morning show on Cleveland’s Q104. I am a single female, who owns a house in the Heights, with my two cats, Holyfield and Van Gogh… they are both missing part of their ears.

SKSM: How did you become involved in All That You Love Will Be Carried Away?

Rebecca Wilde: Local writer/director James Renner call me up and asked if I would be interested in a bit part in the flick.

SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?

Rebecca Wilde: I don’t think it was written for me, but I didn’t have to audition.

SKSM: You worked with James Renner on this film, how was that?

Rebecca Wilde: James is awesome! He makes people completely at ease. I think that shows a great director because he’s easy to get direction from.

SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?

Rebecca Wilde: It wasn’t really funny, but I felt really cool having a cigarette with Joe Bob Briggs, the star of the movie. I used to watch him on TNT all the time……..btw, I quit smoking almost 2 years ago.

SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?

Rebecca Wilde: Went back to the simple life of anonymity…..at least visually. Still on the air.

SKSM: There are four different adaptations of this story. What do you think it is in the story that attracts people so much?

Rebecca Wilde: Stephen King just has a way of pulling people into his stories. Maybe it’s because the guy is totally relatable……..he’s just a regular guy looking for who knows what and I think a lot of people are always looking for something or someone to fulfill them.

SKSM: Are you (or were you) a fan of Stephen King’s work?

Rebecca Wilde: LOVE him!! Used to read the scary books to my brother, even as we got older and we would scare the crap out of each other.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything else you want to say to the fans that read this interview?

SKSM: How did you become involved in All That You Love Will Be Carried Away?

Joe Bob Briggs: I got a request from James Renner to do it. He had been talking to the director Mick Garris about his project, and Mick recommended me. Mick has done several Stephen King movies and I had worked for him on “The Stand.” I played a Texas highway patrolman in that Stephen King mini-series. Mick has been a friend for years and he told James that he could probably afford me!

SKSM: Did you have to audition for the part or was it written directly for you?

Joe Bob Briggs: No, there was no audition. James just said he could easily visualize me in the part and he wanted me to do it. It was not really written for me. James had read the short story when it originally appeared in The New Yorker magazine, and he thought “I was born to direct this story.” He just loved the story, and he had worked out a script based on it.

SKSM: You worked with James Renner on this film, how was that?

Joe Bob Briggs: James was great to work with. I thought the film relied too heavily on the voiceover narration, so I suggested some dialogue scenes, and we incorporated most of them into the film. He ran a smooth and efficient set.

SKSM: Was there any funny or special moment when they made the movie that you would like to tell me about?

Joe Bob Briggs: I was terrified of Harvey Pekar. He made me nervous. (He played the motel clerk.) The very first time we did the scene, he was perfect, he was himself, he was very natural. When we finished the rehearsal, he was already bored with it, though, and kept wondering why we had to do it more than once. The reason we had to do it more than once is that we were rehearsing. This was explained. Of course there was more than one camera angle and a travelling shot, and so we had to do it several more times, and each time he became more resentful and bored. I don’t know which take was used, but I would assume a very very early one. By the end he seemed to be in full revolt against the process.

SKSM: Do you still have any contact with the crew/cast from that time? If so with who?

Joe Bob Briggs: Well, James Renner lets me know whenever the film is shown at a festival. And I’m in touch with Charles Moore, who was the assistant director and also played the character of the other travelling salesman.

SKSM: What did you do after All That You Love Will Be Carried Away?

Joe Bob Briggs: I’ve acted in three horror films as well as done a lot of magazine writing.

SKSM: There are four different adaptations of this story. What do you think it is in the story that attracts people so much?

Joe Bob Briggs: Well, I think it’s very poignant, about the way people slowly drive themselves crazy, through social isolation and the pursuit of profit. It’s uncharacteristic for Stephen King. It’s a powerful commentary on the modern world.

SKSM: Are you (or were you) a fan of Stephen King’s work?

Joe Bob Briggs: Yes, I’ve been a fan for years. He was the guest of honor at a film festival I sponsored in Dallas in the early eighties. The World Drive-In Movie Festival and Custom Car Rally–Big Steve stood up on top of the concession stand and accepted the Lifetime Achievement Award.

SKSM: Thanks for taking the time to answer my questions. Is there anything else you want to say to the fans that read this interview?